Album Review- Matthew Payne – Better Times

Posted on February 23, 2026 by Jack Mesenbourg

A casually dressed man with a serious expression looks out toward the viewer.

I had not heard of this artist before Adam Dawson at Broken Jukebox Media reached out with the opportunity to listen to Better Times before it officially releases on April 17th. After spending a bunch of enjoyable time on the album’s ten songs I also checked out Payne’s 2025 EP Coyote Howlin Blues. I would recommend that as a way to introduce yourself to this singer-songwriter as you wait for the album to come out. My favorite there is “Spiderhouse Blues” but the entire EP is solid.

The Better Times album leads off with the title track which is a simple yet elegant country tune with a lilting acoustic guitar melody and a spare, earnest vocal. There is also a wonderfully mournful pedal steel weaving around the arrangement. The next song “Heartsick” kicks off a double run (which also includes “Down in the Valley”) of country-blues style rompers full of twangy guitars and thumping bass lines. There are some really cool resonator guitar moments also especially on “Heartsick.”

The fourth track “Adilena” provides a nice tempo change and is a stripped down tune with a yearning vocal that evokes picturesque imagery as a backdrop to unrealized love. “Name” is up next (very guitar forward with nice resonator tone giving a very vintage bluegrass edge) and is followed by the introspective “My Father’s Son.”

The opening melody of the album’s seventh song “Kid” has a great Americana feel to it and adds in a healthy dose of harmonica to fill out the sound. Stylistically the next track “Silhouette of Branches” is a close cousin to “Kid” and they both have lyrics that cover some pretty deep topics of personal loss and struggle.

I am always interested in well done “quiet songs,” those that have bare bones arrangements and a subdued tone but still deliver power and meaning in a very graceful way. “Slip Through Me” is a great example of these qualities in action. Payne’s vocal track, tinted with nostalgia and accompanied by a stark acoustic guitar, delivers a poignant, introspective message. It is my favorite on this album. The final track “Terlingua” is a mellow but moving end cap for this ten song set.

The songwriting by Payne on this entire album is poetic and straightforward, delivering characters and places that are very vibrant and real. He has a talent for spelling out the struggles and trials of life, along with a few triumphs, in a way that is very relatable. The musical arrangements, although not intricate or complicated, are performed very well by the talented musicians (see below) and in a way that brings feeling to every note. Better Times is a solid collection of raw, heartfelt songs that blend county, bluegrass and a bit of blues to very good effect.

Vote here to nominate this for my best of 2026 list:

Other musicians on this are: Marty Muse (pedal steel, resonator), Kevin Smith (bass), James Stevens (harmony vocals, percussion).

Purchase this now at:

https://matthewpayne.bandcamp.com/album/better-times

Please let me know your opinion also in the comment section below

Interested in more info on this Artist?

https://www.thisismatthewpayne.net/home

Just a few ideas if you have the time: purchase music when you can as streaming does not pay much even times a thousand, support and get to know your local community, live well and be a good neighbor 🙂

Release Alert – Johnny O’Neil – Live at Le Musique Room

Posted on February 17, 2026 by Jack Mesenbourg

A man on a music stage playing a V- shaped electric guitar.

This Minnesota band has been kicking out good old rock & roll since their 2021 debut Truth or Dare. If you have time to go back and give that a listen my fav songs there are “Tell Me What You Think You Know” and “Comin’ For You” which both deliver a lot of that good, clean energy you might remember from the 80’s.

Since that first release the band has changed just a little, becoming a three-piece in 2025 after the departure of guitarist John Funk. This new album mostly features songs from Truth or Dare and 2023’s Brand New Day but also includes a new track “Lover” which (as per their Bandcamp page) “is the first single from (their) upcoming third studio album.” The recording is well engineered and produced and the music is the solid rock sounds these guys deliver so well. This is a good starting point also if you are new to this band and want a sampler of their sounds as you wait for that upcoming album.

Vote here to nominate this for my best of 2026 list:

You can purchase this now here:

https://johnnyoneil.bandcamp.com/album/live-at-le-musique-room

Please let me know your opinion also in the comment section below

Interested in more info on this Artist?

https://www.instagram.com/johnny_oneilofficial/

Song Review- Melonball “The Static” from the upcoming album Take Care

Posted on February 14, 2026 by Jack Mesenbourg

Four men and one woman sit in what looks like an older style living room setting. They are looking out toward the viewer with neutral expressions.

Band photo: Manual Wieslhuber

This band traces back to 2023 for me when I heard the song “Sicker” off their debut album Breathe. That track was full of some furious guitar work and a heavy, thundering rhythm groove. I have not followed along in their progress as closely as I probably should have but I did get a chance to hear their 2024 EP eup•nea which has some very nice acoustic versions of five selections off that debut album.

Although much of Melonball’s music has political overtones and foundation (which everyone can have their own opinion about of course) the solid musical arrangements of the songs and skills of the musicians are always on display. This particular track (part of their upcoming album Take Care) is a step away from their more prominent themes as it centers specifically on personal relationships. The song has a classic clean vocal intro with a simple backing melody that feels very exposed and unguarded. After about forty seconds it jumps into a fast, drum heavy cycle that is like a rush of hectic adrenaline. Oli’s vocals are as powerful as ever throughout the song and do a nice job of alternating between vulnerability and boldness. Overall, this is a great rocker with a bit of a punky edge to it.

Album to be released via Thousand Islands Records / Rookie Records on February 27th

Vote here to nominate this for my best of 2026 list:

Musicians on this are: Oli (vocals), Tommy (drums), Basti (guitar, backing vocals), Jens (bass) and Vik (guitar, backing vocals)

Check this video for the song:

Pre-save the album here:

https://bfan.link/melonball-take-care

Please let me know your opinion also in the comment section below

Interested in more info on this Artist?

https://www.instagram.com/melonball.punkrock/

Bandcamp page https://melonball.bandcamp.com/

Song Review- Tess & The Details “Standing on the Edge”

Posted on February 10, 2026 by Jack Mesenbourg

The men and one woman walk toward the camera in an urban setting. They are all wearing black and have serious looks on their faces.

Always watchful for new music from this great San Francisco band I caught this single when it dropped on January 23rd and have been having a good time listening to it. As with all things Tess & The Details this track is packed with plenty of energy, volume and edginess. There is some very nice guitar work on this one that really punches through a tight and loud rhythm section. The vocals are delivered by Tess Stevens with a soft tone that belies the message being delivered. Overall, this is a song with a brash, pop-punk groove that will quickly have you stomping your feet and singing along.

Vote here to nominate this for my best of 2026 list:

Please let me know your opinion also in the comment section below

Interested in more info on this Artist?

https://tessandthedetails.com/

https://www.instagram.com/tessandthedetails

You can check out more of the music and information on the Bandcamp page https://tessandthedetails.bandcamp.com/

Prior review links

Song Review- Tess & The Details – “Take Me Alive”

Song Review – Crimson Riot “Cross The Line” from the upcoming album Third Time’s A Charm

Posted on February 7, 2026 by Jack Mesenbourg

One woman and two men stand against some a wall with busy wallpaper. The woman is looking at the viewer while the men look up and off to the left and right.

Getting the email from Mike at Earshot Media about this single dropping on January 20th was one of those strange coincidental moments. I had actually been listening to Classy Punk for Trashy People (Crimson Riot’s 2019 album) a few days before it arrived. That all came about courtesy of yet another Apple Music “chase the next suggested band” session after I had started with the great Minneapolis group Banner Pilot (jump on Collapser when you get a chance). After a couple more turns I arrived at Classy Punk and was pretty impressed both with the unique quality of Gunn’s voice and also the straightforward direction and clarity of sound that only a talented three piece band can deliver. I picked that album up on Bandcamp and had looped through it a few times when I got the chance to hear this new release.

“Cross The Line” has one of those great soaring guitar beginnings that gets you pumped up right away. It steps down just a little bit for the verse bars although the rhythm groove from a very punchy bass and choppy drum line keep much energy flowing. The vocals are delivered with Gunn’s characteristic strength and edginess to round out a well-crafted alt-punk song.

One more quick recommendation about this band – check out “St James Gate” (off 2020’s It Took An Apocalypse) …yes, it is another song about Guinness and related stuff but this one is quite good…have not heard the entire album yet but I will be hoping to get to it soon.

Vote here to nominate this for my best of 2026 list:

Musicians on this are: Chris Reject (bass, vocals), Roxy Gunn (guitar, vocals) and Ryan J (drums)

Stream this now in your usual places and check the video:

The full album (via Leg Lamp Records) is due to drop March 20th – Pre-order for Third Time’s A Charm now open here:

Home

Please let me know your opinion also in the comment section below

Interested in more info on this Artist?

https://www.instagram.com/crimsonriotband/

https://crimsonriot.bandcamp.com/

Album Review- Berang – Does It Ever Get Better?

Posted on February 4, 2026 by Jack Mesenbourg

A black and white image of a man standing against a floral print wall. He is dressed casually and playing an acoustic guitar.

Photo by Jess Jacob / Album artwork by Jolien Wilke

I had a pretty cool moment on a recent Tuesday when Mike from Sweet Beef Agency in San Diego reached out to me with a chance to preview this album (which has since been released on 01.30…no waiting for you if you want to check it out right away). As this was a new artist to me the brief bio Mike included on Berang was a big help. This is a solo project of Belgian singer-songwriter Bert Janssens who “plays heartfelt indie folk with a punk soul.” That sounded like an interesting combination to explore so away I went on several run throughs of this release.

There is a definite folk music heart to all of the songs on Does It Ever Get Better? Even when the tempos are up a bit you can feel it coming through. The lead-off track “The Least Fortunate Timeline” has an eerie, almost mystical first twenty seconds before a yearning vocal cuts in over electrical guitar. Drums soon follow and this one runs on a pretty punchy rhythm the remainder of the way with just a few pauses that almost seem like moments of reflection.

The next two tracks, “Specific Ways of Being” (a boisterous number that fits right into the alt-rock genre) and “Valère” (heavier guitar tone here and pointed lyrics…and those drums are awesome!) lead you to “Don’t Keep Your Soul So Close.” This song is a change of gears that steps down the volume considerably and simplifies the instrumentation. I think it plays well in this spot on the set list and hands off well to “You’ll Be Alright,” which is a softer tune also and has a light, charming melody. Standby for a bit of a ten second cosmic breakdown though around the 2:40 mark…a super interesting moment you are going to have to listen to for yourself to understand.

The second half of the album kicks off with the title track which comes in with a bit of a punky edge and then runs in a pop-rock groove the rest of the way. There is a nice little harmonica moment on this one also and overall it is one of those songs that sticks with you after listening. Next up is “Safe and Satisfied” (a breathy ballad focused around a soft, looping acoustic guitar melody) followed by “A Form of Encouragement” (an infectious, guitar-charged number that I took positive energy from…although I have not quite figured out if it is intended that way…I’ll keep listening).

Next up is “Fair Winds and Following Seas” a track with a dual-personalty that I think is great and which makes it my favorite on the album. This is very much a simple folk song for the first 1:36, slow tempo and a poignant, heavy guitar sound with heartfelt vocals. It can kind of lull you into a dreamy world which is swiftly turned around via a short bridge (distorted guitar and thundering drums) that transforms the music. The second half of this song comes out fast and loud, overlaid by a buzzy, warm bass line. A very cool example of how you can use song arrangement and composition to achieve a unique result and a great song. The album closes out with “Support Of Any Kind” which is a pretty straightforward alt-rocker with some nice guitar moments added in. It serves as a nice coda, echoing the general groove of the album while adding a touch of nostalgia and hope.

This album is a noteworthy release and one that I think you will enjoy if you give it a listen. Berang is clearly an artist with a lot of “real person performing meaningful music with conviction” running through his veins. I will be keeping my ears open going forward.

If you have an extra hour to check it out there is a video on YouTube of a live stream with Berang – pretty cool to watch. It is definitely a solid singer-songwriter set and the sincerity as he performs is notable. You can even see and hear some of the “punk spirit” referenced at the top of this review. The video also includes some backstory for songs on Does It Ever Get Better?

Vote here to nominate this for my best of 2026 list:

Additional musicians on this: David Van den Bosch (drums) and Maarten Iterbeke (bass)

You can purchase this now right here:

https://berang.bandcamp.com/album/does-it-ever-get-better

Please let me know your opinion also in the comment section below

Interested in more info on this Artist?

https://www.instagram.com/berang_music/

Album Review- SkyTigers – …Injustice For All

Posted on February 1, 2026 by Jack Mesenbourg

One woman and three men, all casually dressed, stand in a long hallway looking out toward the viewer.

My first exposure to this band was back sometime in 2018 or 2019 when I heard “Casualty Friday” off the 2015 album Appetite for Reconstruction. That song was highlighted by a very heavy rhythm groove that lent a bit of a doom vibe to what is already some great thrash metal sounds. That track, and the entire album itself, has a bit more of a stripped down feel to it and lacks (for better or worse depending on your POV) some of the added chaotic refinement of their later work. Another song (which I consider to be one of their all-time best) on Reconstruction is “Knuckleduster” and includes the fantastic lyric:

“So pardon me for choosing sides, I put the I in team, It’s amazing how jealousy can turn self- preservation into vanity.”

The upcoming album from SkyTigers …Injustice For All is set to drop February 6, 2026 (on Sound Investment Records) and I had the good fortune to preview it through Mike Cubillos at Earshot Media. To describe this album as twenty-five minutes of unrelenting fury would be a severe understatement. The first single “Immortelevision” is available now and you should check it out (see below) for an introduction to what this band is bringing to the table this time around. The energy comes from all sources here with passionate vocals, driving drums, loud distorted guitars and a power-packed bass line. The nine songs are a bit chaotic for sure but it has structure and definition also…a good balance that gives you all the power without becoming a jangled up mess (…and we know…it can happen if you are not careful…). A couple other favorites of mine on Injustice are: “Rubble Without a Cause” (cool sonic opening moments and the guitars are just fantastic) and “Spared No Expense” (clear, prominent vocal line and very nice guitar solo included). They also bring back “Casualty Friday” here and it is a nice redux (even though I prefer the original but I am always stuck in vintage land as we know…).

You can stream “Immortelevison” here:

https://show.co/Fm1TEiN

And check out this cool video for the song:

Vote here to nominate this album for my best of 2026 list:

Pre-save on Spotify and pre-order the vinyl via these links:

https://show.co/uuqqnW1

https://www.soundinvestmentrecords.com/shop/p/skytigers-injustice-for-all

Please let me know your opinion also in the comment section below

Interested in more info on this Artist?

https://skytigers.bandcamp.com/

https://www.instagram.com/skytigers_music

5 to Spin for 01.29.2026

Posted on January 29, 2026 by Jack Mesenbourg

Check out these great songs! You can click the below link to listen to this playlist or check the embeds below:

https://bandcamp.com/jackmesenbourg/playlist/01292026

Release Alert- Bill Scorzari – “I Stayed” from the upcoming album Sidereal Days (Day 2)

Posted on January 26, 2026 by Jack Mesenbourg

a black and white image of a man with a long beard looking off to the left and upward

Having spent plenty of time listening to Sidereal Days (Day 1) since it came out I was excited to see the press release from Dreamspider Publicity on January 23rd that this new single had dropped. Also, even though the actual release date for the full Day 2 album is currently September 25th my understanding is that there will be a single out each month until then…so definitely something to look forward to along the way.

You only have to read the list of musicians (below) to understand you are in for a treat and pushing play brings that thought to life. The music here is delicately crafted, gentle in tone but with a sharp acoustic melody poking through like pinpricks of pain. The big acoustic bass plays so well in this song also, a heartbeat offset by the drum line. Like all of Scorzari’s lyrics the ones here are right from the heart, raw and stark as they weave a story of love lost.

This is a great first single to hear off of Sidereal Days (Day 2) and I will be looking forward to more music from the album soon.

Musicians on this are: Bill Scorzari (acoustic guitar, vocals), Erin Rae (harmony vocals), Marie Lewey (backing vocals), Cindy Richardson Walker (backing vocals), Juan Solorzano (pedal steel), Danny Mitchell (piano, Hammond B3 organ), Chelsea McGough (cello), Eamon McLoughlin (violin), Michael Rinne (upright acoustic bass) and Neilson Hubbard (drums, percussion).

Give this one a listen here:

https://billscorzari.hearnow.com/i-stayed

Please let me know your opinion also in the comment section below

Interested in more info on this Artist?

https://www.billscorzari.com/

https://www.instagram.com/billscorzari

His song “When Will My Time Come Along” also appears in my 5 To Spin playlist for 06.30.2025

https://bandcamp.com/jackmesenbourg/playlist/06302025

Prior Reviews:

Song Review – Bill Scorzari “All Behind Me Now” from the album The Crosswinds of Kansas

Release Alert! Bill Scorzari – “All This Time”

Album Review- Bill Scorzari – Sidereal Days (Day 1)

Song Review- ghostbells – “Immortal Lovers” from the album Catacouture

Posted on January 23, 2026 by Jack Mesenbourg

Two people (one sitting on a cot and one standing) inside a prison cell, both of them looking toward the viewer. The person on the bed has a musical device on their lap.

Sometimes it can be very cool to step back into a musical moment from your past and re-experience a bit of those special rhythms, grooves and beats. This new single from ghostbells has some good fresh energy to it but definitely throws back to the electronic dance sounds of the 80’s. The first couple of times listening to this song I had a few flashbacks to some rather interesting times in Tijuana. All of those nights were fueled by entrancing waves of bass and synthesizer played loud and accompanied by those wonderful flashing stage lights. This track has all the heavy rhythm you could want blended well into a relentless techno framework.

This band was new to me and they have a pretty cool back story on getting to this point in their journey. As detailed in the press release from Earshot Media:

“ghostbells’ rise has been anything but conventional. After spending nearly two years writing, recording, and filming videos before approaching labels, the band signed to Out of Line Music in June 2025 with nearly two albums’ worth of material already completed. Just weeks later, with no released music and newly launched social media, they made their live debut at Poland’s Castle Party Festival.”

I have also recently heard that this full EP is going to be out February 5th via Out of Line Music. You can get a pre-order for the CD here:

https://www.outoflineshop.de/ghostbells-catacouture-cd.html

And pre-save the album (which really helps!):

https://ghostbells.lnk.to/Catacouture

The video for “Immortal Lovers” can be viewed here and is certainly quirky enough to be worth a view:

Please let me know your opinion in the comment section below

Interested in more info on this Artist?

https://ghostbells.bandcamp.com/music .

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Category Archives: Uncategorized

Album Review- Matthew Payne – Better Times

Release Alert – Johnny O’Neil – Live at Le Musique Room

Song Review- Melonball “The Static” from the upcoming album Take Care

Song Review- Tess & The Details “Standing on the Edge”

Song Review – Crimson Riot “Cross The Line” from the upcoming album Third Time’s A Charm

Album Review- Berang – Does It Ever Get Better?

Album Review- SkyTigers – …Injustice For All

5 to Spin for 01.29.2026

Release Alert- Bill Scorzari – “I Stayed” from the upcoming album Sidereal Days (Day 2)

Song Review- ghostbells – “Immortal Lovers” from the album Catacouture